Returning Amir may be in for hostile reception from Lord's crowd, says Broad

Stuart Broad will welcome Mohammad Amir if he makes his Test comeback at Lord's next month - but warns the crowd reaction may be "a different story".

Broad knows all about dealing with a frosty reception, from his own experience as a 2013/14 Ashes tourist when one partisan home newspaper refused to print his name before the first Test in Brisbane and the crowd held up insulting banners and chanted obscenely.

Article continues below

It is unlikely the more genteel clientele at Lord's will make any displeasure quite so obvious.

Amir, however, can perhaps expect a mixed reception at best on his return to the venue where he colluded six years ago with two Pakistan team-mates to bowl no-balls to order.

Just a teenager at the time, the brilliant left-armer was jailed for his part in the spot-fixing plot and has since served a five-year ban from all cricket.

Unlike his 2010 captain Salman Butt and fellow seamer Mohammad Asif, all-rounder Amir has been selected by Pakistan for a Test return - starting against England at the home of cricket on July 14, the ground he besmirched on his last visit.

Amir's presence is still dependent on the success of his visa application to travel again to a country where he was convicted of a criminal offence and served time in prison.

Pakistan are optimistic, however, thanks in part to a reported letter of support from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Broad could be forgiven a little personal baggage after his only Test century - a brilliant 169 from number nine - was overshadowed by the antics of England's opponents in a match the hosts won by an innings to seal the series.

But he said: "I don't think any feelings will be dragged into this Test match from that one.

"There are only four players in (this) England team from then, and Pakistan had a huge change-over.

"So I don't think any ill-feeling or negativity from the players will have carried through.

"(But) the crowd might be a different story."

Broad cites the reaction only last summer to Ben Stokes' controversial dismissal for obstructing the field in a one-day international as evidence that Lord's can be stirred up.

"We know that Lord's is a passionate crowd ... there was a lively reaction to Ben Stokes' dismissal last year to Mitchell Starc, and it looked like a nasty atmosphere for a while."

Broad cherishes his Test century, in a record eighth-wicket stand with Jonathan Trott - and he bears no grudges.

"There are a lot of matches that won't be remembered for individual performances," he said.

"My mum got me an original painting of me and Trotty standing there with the scoreboard.

"I do look back at it, and I'm very proud of scoring a hundred at Lord's - and beating my dad's highest score."

He is content his achievement was not soured, but admits England's was.

"It's certainly not de-valued in my mind. I still scored those runs and (I'm) still on the honours board," he added.

"I think the result was de-valued. We couldn't celebrate - we didn't celebrate - it was all a very strange time.

"The one-day series that followed was quite unpleasant, and the crowds reflected the bad feeling."

Even so, as far as Broad is concerned, Amir's return is a good thing.

"I think he's served his time," he said.

"To win a Test series is a brilliant feeling, and you want to play against the best possible team you can.

"For quality of bowler, I don't think there is much doubt that he is up there with anyone.

"I've not played him for six years, but in 2010 he was a constant threat and man of the series.

"It swung round corners for him."

The same could be said, more recently, of Broad's own team-mate James Anderson, whose 18 wickets in two Tests so far this summer against Sri Lanka have taken him to the top of the International Cricket Council rankings for the first time.

Broad is the stooge again, having fallen from his perch to third.

He is magnanimous on that score too, though, and confirms his great pace partner has resisted any temptation to brag.

"He hasn't actually mentioned it," he said

"I texted him when they came out, saying, 'Having a drink for you - congratulations'.

"I think he's chuffed. But you know what Jimmy's like - he's certainly not given it a smile yet."

They will be renewing collective efforts, and just a little friendly rivalry, when England bid for a rare 3-0 clean sweep in this week's Lord's Test.

"It's a lovely accolade for our partnership that we've both managed to climb up the rankings like that," said Broad.

"It's great to have a little bit of competition, and we are both really competitive guys."

Report author of article

DISCLAIMER

This article has been written by a member of the GiveMeSport Writing Academy and does not represent the views of
GiveMeSport.com or SportsNewMedia. The views and opinions expressed are solely that of the author credited at the top of this article.
GiveMeSport.com and SportsNewMedia do not take any responsibility for the content of its contributors.

Want more content like this?

Like our GiveMeSport Facebook Page and you will get this directly to you.